The annual Gray Sky Blues Music Festival kicked off directly after Saturday’s Tacoma Daffodil Grand Floral Parade filling The Swiss, the Harmon and Cutters Point Coffee with topnotch blues. Organized by the Tacoma Events Commission and folks involved with the South Sound Blues Association, the Gray Sky Blues Music Festival was destined to provide everything its name suggests ??" though those in attendance could likely do without the clouds. Photography by Pappi Swarner and Steve Dunkelberger

Yesterday, one of the busiest streets in Tacoma was Sixth Avenue â€" between Pine and Trafton â€" where from early afternoon to about 5:30 p.m., food vendors, artists, bands and herds of neighborhood people held court at the 12th annual Art on the Ave festival.